What to see in South Korea: 9 must-sees

Amble through Bulguksa Temple, the most important Buddhist complex in South Korea, raised on the slopes of Mount Toham about 1,200 years ago during the Silla kingdom. Entering, you cross the Cheongun and Baegun bridges, recognized as National Treasures, and reach the courtyard where the Dabotap and Seokgatap pagodas rise before the Daeungjeon hall. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995 along with the Seokguram grotto, the grounds keep bronze bells, gilded images of the Buddha and stone stairways that display the refinement of Silla art. The monks still celebrate ceremonies at dawn, and in autumn the red maple frames the curved roofs.

Cycle among the hills of Gyeongju, capital of the Silla kingdom for nearly 1,000 years, where the grass-covered Daereungwon tombs rise next to temples such as Bulguksa and the Seokguram grotto. UNESCO inscribed the ensemble on the World Heritage list in 2000 for its exceptional value as a testament to a vanished civilisation. You can enter the Cheonmachung tomb to see the gold crowns found inside, walk beside the Anapji pond at sunset and look at the Cheomseongdae observatory, the oldest in East Asia, while the cafés of Hwangnidan-gil serve Gyeongju's traditional bread.

Behold the palaces of the Joseon dynasty while Asia's most advanced metro runs beneath your feet. Founded in the 18th century BC as Wiryeseong, Seoul went from war to Korea's cultural capital in barely 70 years. Sample tteokbokki at the Myeongdong stalls, hear K-pop in Hongdae and cross the Han River toward the towers of Gangnam. Among Buddhist temples, night markets and giant screens, you will understand how tradition coexists with technological vanguard.

Traverse the lava tubes of Manjanggul and climb the crater of Hallasan, the 1,950-meter volcano that commands Jeju. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007, the island gathers the waterfalls of Cheonjiyeon and Jeongbang — which drops straight into the sea — and the volcanic cones of Seongsan Ilchulbong against the sunrise. Follow trails through cedar woods and rapeseed fields, watch the haenyeo, the island's traditional women divers, and follow the basalt coast that shapes this island in South Korea's south.

Visit the most dangerous border in the world, where war and peace share a 4-kilometer strip that has divided Korea for 70 years. DMZ, war and hope. Take in the monument that recounts centuries of history and culture. Walk its structures, admire the architectural details and uncover the story hidden in its stones.

Explore Seoraksan National Park, in Gangwon, where the Seoraksan massif shares ground with pine woods, cold-water streams and granite formations. Follow trails that climb to viewpoints over the valley, listen to the water of its falls among the rocks and look for birds in the canopy. In autumn maple and oak color the slopes; in winter snow covers the peaks. The park protects delicate habitats, so respect the marked paths.

Pause on the trails of Nami Island, in Gangwon, reached only by ferry across the river. Stroll between ranks of trees that change color with each season, listen for squirrels moving among the leaves and watch the birds at the water's edge. Rent a bike, ride the paths at your own pace and you will come across small sculptures and gardens among the greenery, with the river landscape appearing at the end of every stretch.